Arlington Energy Committee
Minutes for Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Members Present, in person: Stephanie Moffett-Hynds, Joan Nash, Mary Anne Holmes.
Via Zoom: Bill Laberge, Alex Ernst, Garret Siegel
Absent: Jenny Murtaugh, Mardi Crane
Also Present: N/A
The meeting was called to order at 6:04 PM, by AEC Chair, Stephanie.
Additions to or Deletions from the Agenda:
Red Mountain Update – Alex
Minutes of the previous meeting of February 4, 2026: Bill moved to approve the minutes. Garret seconded. Motion carried.
Old Business:
- Town Meeting Recap (handouts and surveys)
The AEC offers thanks to Arlingtonians Roger Hanson and Bryan Dalton who staffed the Window Dressers table at Town Meeting, offering information on how to sign up to obtain the window inserts and how to volunteer to help build the inserts. Roger provided a petition for Window Dressers to be on the Town ballot in 2027 to ask for funds ($500) to help those who might need financial assistance obtaining the window inserts. In addition, Roger helped clean up AEC materials and was at the AMHS gymnasium during voting all day. Bryan also went to the Food Cupboard yesterday and signed 2 households up for WD.
Our survey got a few responses; voters did take handouts. (The surveys will also be available to fill out at the upcoming Volunteer Fair at AMHS on Friday, March 27.)
In addition to Split and Shine, Alex Paustian is now cleaning Heat Pumps commercially. We displayed cards for both of these businesses.
Some concern was expressed that solar and heat pumps comments by SB members during the floor discussion may have been misleading to residents.
AEC members have been attending every Select Board meeting. This Monday, March 9, those attending will seek clarification on:
- Joan: solar on blinking light; accrues $ for town. How does that actually work?
- Karen Lee is handling solar installation at school. Bill will reach out to her: Is there an array?
- Does the SB have any numbers on heat/$$/C used by the newly-acquired fire houses before they did upgrades?? What upgrades to the heating/insulation have occurred, if any? What did it cost to heat the buildings and how were they heating them?
Motion: Bill to reach out to the SB for clarification on energy costs for firehouses. Moved by MAH; seconded by Joan; all in favor.
To Do: Bill will reach to SB for clarification on before-and-after energy costs for firehouses.
The new addition to the Select Board will be Sebastian Massey who currently serves on the Planning Commission.
- AEC structure: draft bylaws change to send to Select Board
Last meeting we moved to change bylaws to include a co-chair. To Do: Steph will draft the verbiage after MAH sends her the draft Orientation document. Steph will then submit this to the SB for their approval.
- Weatherization update regarding town hall and garage
Interim Town Administrator Cynthia provided us with the MERP-funded, Centerline-conducted Level 2 energy assessment of Town buildings, dated October 1, 2025.
The Initial Assessment recommended replacing “remaining Town Hall windows” followed by a blower door test with infrared (IR) scanning prior to insulating the attic and installing a heat pump system. The Assessment recommends for the Town Garages to replace an existing thermostat with a programmable and/or occupancy sensor, and seal joints of existing insulation at the ceiling. This should be followed by a blower door test with IR scanning to determine next steps in sealing the buildings. Following these steps, Centerline recommends replacing the garage door, insulation of the east side ceiling, replacement of a door in poor condition, and replacing existing single pane windows.
We further learned that an RFP was prepared that excludes the recommended blower tests and goes straight to the window/door replacements.
We questioned why the crucial step of the blower tests followed by insulation was omitted from the RFP. The AEC moved (MAH moved; Bill seconded) to have Steph write questions prior to the next SB meeting to determine why this has happened. We feel that insulation and sealing cracks would save the town more funds than replacing windows. Put another way, replacing the windows without doing the insulation and sealing the cracks will make the new windows far less effective and the savings less impressive.
To Do: Steph will draft questions to submit to the Select Board prior to their March 9 meeting.
- Carbon Tracking Tool Template Hold Harmless form.
The town’s lawyer made some tweaks to our draft of the form so that we may begin to share our Carbon Tracking Tool; Karen Krulikowski created a user-friendly form and Cynthia will send this to Steph.
To Do: Steph will distribute to us.
To Do: Joni will write s summary of what the tool is, how to use it, who to contact for questions, and request feedback to improve the tool.
Two towns expressed interest in trying out the tool at last October’s VECAN conference. The AEC hopes they will give us constructive feedback, once they try using the tool.
- AEC Orientation Packet and Additions to AEC website page:
To Do: Mary Anne will send the document to Steph for distribution to the committee.
The Updated VT Climate Action Plan and Summary can be found at: https://climatechange.vermont.gov/take-action and this link was added to the document.
To Do: All AEC members please return edits, additions, deletions, improvements by Wed, March 11.
F. Arlington Area Alliance Volunteer Fair
Volunteer Fair will occur Friday, March 27 at AMHS; AEC will have a table for WD signups (Roger Hanson will be the primary person staffing the table to answer WD questions, along with Steph who can be there for only a couple of hours. AEC members are encouraged to attend.
- Window Dressers Community Build dates and place confirmed
Dates: at First Congregational Church in Manchester; Oct 22 – 28. We will provide signup opportunities at Farmer’s Markets this summer. New volunteers have stepped forward to help with measuring. Donald de Voil is the new Program Manager for VT and NH and is setting up new Trainings for volunteers.
To Do: Steph will forward Mr. de Voil’s email re: the trainings to AEC members.
New Business:
- Legislative Update on Energy matters: AEC members report on State House visit with the VNRC: current bills under consideration
H. 740: GHG Emissions Reporting and Inventory to provide a statewide standard to assess same; in committee.
H. 710: Single Plant – “Smart Growth for Solar” – to allow additions to solar arrays without re-applying for permits, etc. Passed the House.
H. 600: Appliance Efficiency: adopt appliance efficiency standards; In committee.
H. 601: allow nuclear energy to count as “renewable”; in committee.
S. 202/ H. 598: Portable Solar, aka. “balcony solar”; passed by the Senate; passed by the House.
S. 170/ H. 716: Net Metering Rate Freeze; both in committee.
S.205/H 727 site data centers responsibly; both in committee.
S. 270: Right to Charge (vehicles) for people living in apartment complexes, etc. developer to supply charging station(s) for EVs.
Other:
Red Mountain Update: Alex reached out to PHS – verbal agreement for all but 200 yards for access; go-between is currently out of town; will let us know if/when he gets the 200 yards.
Motion to adjourn: Bill moves; Joni 2nd
Meeting ends: 8:05pm
Next meeting: April 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Minutes prepared by Mary Anne Holmes